Roger Mason Jr.
A sharp-shooting NBA guard who seamlessly transitioned into a major leadership role, shaping the future of players' rights and 3-on-3 basketball.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 10·Generation X
Biography
Roger Mason Jr.'s career is a tale of two distinct acts. On the court, he was a dependable combo guard known for a smooth three-point stroke and clutch performances. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls, he became a valuable journeyman, with memorable stops in Washington and San Antonio, where his professionalism thrived under Gregg Popovich. His most famous moment came in 2012 with the Knicks, hitting a game-winning three-pointer on Christmas Day. But his true legacy was forged after he hung up his sneakers. Mason leveraged the respect he'd earned among peers to become Deputy Executive Director of the NBA Players Association, navigating complex labor negotiations. He then pivoted to become the President of the BIG3, Ice Cube's innovative 3-on-3 league, where he served as commissioner and helped build a new platform for former players. Mason evolved from a role player into an architect of the game's business and cultural landscape.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Roger was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Roger Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Roger's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the Deputy Executive Director of the NBA Players Association (NBPA) from 2017 to 2021.
- Was named the President and later Commissioner of the BIG3 basketball league, helping guide its growth.
- Played 10 seasons in the NBA, averaging 6.3 points per game and shooting 37% from three-point range.
- Hit a game-winning three-pointer for the New York Knicks on Christmas Day in 2012.
Did You Know?
He was a standout college player at the University of Virginia, where he was a two-time All-ACC selection.
He interned at the financial firm Merrill Lynch during the 2011 NBA lockout.
He is the son of Roger Mason Sr., who also played in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers.
“I just try to be ready when my number is called.”
